Start of onshore works at EOWDC

The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) is to start onshore substation works today (Monday, October 17).

The programme for constructing the substation and associated cabling works at Blackdog, Aberdeenshire, will begin with work to prepare and secure the site including establishing temporary staff facilities and an access route on site for the onshore project team before work on the substation begins later this autumn.

Adam Ezzamel, the EOWDC project director at project developer Vattenfall, said: "The start of onshore works is a step forward in the EOWDC's development and we aim to complete this part of the project with minimum disruption to the local community by being a considerate neighbour.

"As part of this, we have held community drop-in sessions where members of the project team and our contractors have been available to address any questions or concerns. We will continue to keep the local community informed of the progress of the project which will help cement Aberdeen's position as a global energy city and deliver long-term economic benefits to the region."

The onshore substation and cabling allows power from the 92.4MW test and demonstration project to be exported to the electricity network. The EOWDC is expected to generate on average enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 68,000 UK households per annum.

Engineering and infrastructure specialists, J. Murphy & Sons, have been appointed by Vattenfall-owned subsidiary, Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, to deliver the onshore substation at Blackdog and the associated cabling.

Aberdeenshire company, Donside Safety, is supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) for all workers on the EOWDC.

Dale Rabey, director at Donside Safety, said: "We are proud to be working in close partnership with Vattenfall for the supply of PPE to ensure the contract for the wind turbines runs smoothly and safely. As a well-established company of over 25 years and a specialist in the oil and gas industry, we are now servicing the wind energy sector where we can bring our expertise to the table to benefit other firms that seek professional safety wear."

Located off Aberdeen Bay, the more than £300million EOWDC is Scotland's largest offshore wind test and demonstration facility. The 92.4 MW, 11-turbine offshore wind scheme will deploy next generation technology and as such, the North-east will be home to a world-class hub of clean energy innovation that will help drive down the cost of offshore wind power.

Underlining the vision for the EOWDC, also known as Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, is the installation of the world's most powerful turbines. In what will be an industry first, the turbines will be paired with game-changing suction bucket foundations.

The EOWDC, which has been awarded up to €40million of funding from the European Union and is supported by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), will generate first power in 2018 and be operational for 20 years.

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Vattenfall is a European energy company with approximately 20,000 employees. For more than 100 years we have electrified industries, supplied energy to people's homes and modernised our way of living through innovation and cooperation. We now want to make fossil-free living possible within one generation.